Father in frantic bid to rescue children

A baby died and three people were injured when this car
crashed into a truck. Photo / TrustPower TECT Rescue
Helicopter

A father frantically smashed car windows to get to his
young children after the vehicle, which he had been following,
crashed head-on with an oncoming truck in the Bay of Plenty.

His baby died following the crash, and his 4-year-old
daughter was seriously injured.

The car was being driven by the children's 58-year-old
grandmother when police said it drifted across the centre
line and hit the light truck on Thornton Bridge near
Whakatane just before 2pm on Sunday.

Rescue Helicopter spokesman Liam Brettkelly said the family,
believed to be from Kaitaia, were driving to Gisborne.

Mr Hendl described the scene as "chaotic".

"[The father] made efforts to get into the car - smashing
windows."

A passing doctor immediately started helping on the
critically injured baby, working on the child for an hour
before travelling with the youngster to Whakatane Hospital's
emergency department, he said.

"He was obviously a great help. He worked intensively on the
poor baby and did a fantastic job," Mr Hendl said.

The baby was transferred to Auckland's Starship Hospital but
died there on Sunday night.

The doctor, who works at a Gate Pa medical centre, did not
want to speak to the media yesterday.

The baby's 4-year-old sister was flown to Auckland Hospital,
where a spokesman said she was in a stable condition.

The children's 26-year-old mother, who was sitting in the
back seat with the children, was also injured and was also in
a stable condition in Auckland Hospital.

Eastern Bay of Plenty ambulance territory manager Richard
Waterson said the grandmother, who was trapped in the car and
had to be freed by firefighters, suffered leg injuries.

A Whakatane Hospital spokesman said she was in a stable
condition.

Mr Hendl said the crash happened 100m from the scene of
another fatal crash last month and the area was a known black
spot.

In January a man in his 20s died when his car left the road
and hit a tree.